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| allotment garlic and rose petals |
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| rare sunshine |
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| the view on a winter's day |
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| in summer we can't see the castle from our house; in winter it reappears |
Joining in with Amy and Five on Friday.
1. Thank you for all your good wishes for Tudor Day, where I was supposed to go and supervise onion chopping with sharp knives. When I got there I was relegated to breadcrumbs. Given that I already had a cut on my finger after a fast-bread-cutting incident a few days ago when in a hasty moment I slashed towards my hand with my mega-sharp bread knife, it probably wasn't a bad idea. Apparently there was only one small onion-related cut, so all in all quite a triumph. Hygiene standards weren't up to much. I tried to ignore where some of the small fingers were going.
2. Little advent packages on the mantelpiece and the top of the piano. Chocolates, a few coins, some stamps. I broke the advent candle in trying to ram it into the glass holder. I half melted it back together again, even though it has a chunk out of it. Mending is one of my specialities.
3, Mindful colouring. The littlest boy and I like to do a little colouring-in together. We sit side by side and work on the same picture. It's happy quiet time for chatting and being nice. Sometimes it can all be a bit frenetic here with three boys all fighting their corner (and each other). But colouring-in time is calm. I was talking to a lady who designed a colouring-in book the other day, and she was saying that children have been so absorbed in the more grown-up colouring, even the livelier ones, it's been quite amazing. I'm a bit impatient, the tiny leaves drive me a bit bananas. Maybe I'm learning something though.
4. On the subject of impatience, have any of you ever tried writing Morning Pages? It's three handwritten pages, written first thing, about anything. A sort of emptying of the mind, a loosening up of the brain. I gave it a go but it's quite time consuming. I'm not sure whether it will be a good thing for me or not. Mostly I'm conscious of time ticking by while I'm not really achieving anything. I'm too impatience for my own good a lot of the time.
5. I gutted a fish today. The middle boy is still quite fish obsessed and desperate to get some fishing tackle after Christmas. In the interests of getting to grips with things in advance I bought a whole sea bass and looked up what to do online. Suffice to say it wasn't as easy as it looks when other people do it. And given that I was a vegan for about 25 years it was a bit of a struggle at times. (Middle boy: "He said you have to put your finger right in there and hold it." Me: "Sweetie, I'm trying very hard not to be squeamish here but I'M NOT PUTTING MY FINGER IN THERE". Between us we managed it and learned a few things along the way. Should he ever catch his very own sea bass, I'm ready.
I'm wishing you a good weekend. Today is a bit of a bonus day actually as I was convinced it was Friday for most of yesterday and was most surprised to find that it wasn't when I wished a friend a good weekend. "Thursday??? You're kidding." I'm all caught up now though.
oooh, so much to think about in this post. Mindfulness has become such a hot topic, I think because we live in such a fast paced society these days that we now need to schedule in 'down' time. a good thing too, I say, we need down time. Have not heard about morning pages, but have in the past tried something very similar, just to clear the mind for the day.. But 3 pages seems like an awful lot. Have a great week x
ReplyDeleteColouring and Morning Pages?! Maybe you should start with small pages at first? I have been in two minds about the colouring books for adults. While they would be a great present for the time of year we're (almost) in, I'm not sure I would have the patience, or that I wouldn't be annoyed at the pictures in some of them... though your plant page looks lovely. The one thing I would like to have is more time in the day, but I think the good man himself is running out of that already...
ReplyDeleteI do so like the look of the colouring books they have now, I do have one but was rather mindful of I could be doing much better things instead - crochet, knitting & finishing many other projects. It's slow going colouring in isn't it, perhaps I need a kids one with larger pictures to colour instead! Glad you got through Tudor day that's one good thing about high school - no need to help out. Well done you on gutting a fish & I hope you enjoy your extra day - what luck xx
ReplyDeleteI have never gutted a fish. I am too squeamish. We organised an Advanced Higher Biology outreach event recently, this involved dissecting an earthworm and look for parasites inside the seminal sacs. It took all my willpower to demonstrate it. Your advent presents look lovely, particularly the swan wrapping paper. Did you paint this? Have a lovely weekend. x
ReplyDeleteLove the traditional gifts for advent all wrapped up, they look good. I like to colour in with the children, but I don't see it as hobby for myself. Have a good weekend.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of you and your son colouring together. I've been dropping hints to my daughters about a colouring in book for Christmas; it sounds very relaxing. You made me laugh about the seabass - I'm not sure I'd have put my finger anywhere either! My youngest walked out of a biology lesson yesterday - it was supposed to be rat dissection but she pronounced it 'disgusting and unnecessary' and left; I wasn't sure whether to be cross or incredibly proud! I love the view from your house. xx
ReplyDeleteEeek, you're braver than me. Mick throws back what he catches so I don't have to deal with the gutting. Eleanor's dissecting a bulls eye today, perhaps I could give her the job as I'm sure she can't be squeamish after that.
ReplyDeleteGutting a fish after cutting your hand? My goodness you are a brave one.
ReplyDeleteHugs to you and speedy healing.
Meredith
As always an enjoyable post and good pictures. I don't mind chopping onions but not gutting fish.
ReplyDeleteI fancy doing some colouring and may well treat myself to a book and some pencils.
Enjoy your weekend. Flighty xx
Oh I don't think I could ever prep a whole fish! (And I'm not usually very squeamish, but just the thought of it ................)
ReplyDeleteAs always, your photos are lovely. I have some of those adult coloring books, but I actually find that cross stitching calms my mind a bit more. That is sort of like coloring, just with floss instead of pencils.
As for that 3 pages in the AM ......just not going to happen here. I wake up JUST in time to get my shower, breakfast and feed the kitty and I'm out!
Well done on the fish gutting! A friend sometimes drop mackerel by...I'm not keen on the whole gutting process. Basically I find my sharpest knife I aim for the head with my eyes shut and slice...not good, but it usually works. As for pulling the guts out...don't even ask! I love the colouring book...very into mindful colouring...if I had time. One of these days. Have a good weekend now that it's Friday! Barbara X
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed that you gutted a fish, especially as you're vegan. I'm not good at dealing with whole creatures and I eat them. Who did the swan picture? It's very good. Have a lovely weekend. Sam x
ReplyDeleteA lapsed vegan I'm afraid, I do feel rather guilty about it. The swans were done by the biggest boy, the birdwatcher. He likes to draw and paint birds when he's not out watching them, so thanks for your lovely comment. I hope you have a good weekend too Sam. CJ xx
DeleteI've seen a lot of bird artwork in my time and this really caught my eye. Foster that talent and make sure you keep all his sketch books :-) x
DeleteThanks Sam, xx
Deletehappy Friday!
ReplyDeleteWe've gutted fish here too. And sorted out pheasants. Needless to say I mostly leave it to M :o) I like all your wrapping. Looks lovely. And I agree about the tiny leaves. Have a happy weekend. x
ReplyDeleteYes, I've done Morning Pages and I love reading them later, but alas, I haven't been doing three pages lately. I might give it another go!
ReplyDeleteI bought a granny coloring book on Etsy and it's so fun! I get a little bored, or I figure I should be doing more constructive things with my time (ha!) but it is very soothing, isn't it?
I love your view!
Gosh you really have had quite a week haven't you! From the Tudor Day to the Fish Gutting Day! I fear that if I wrote three pages about that it would be something like, darned onions, I hate fish, ugghh to guts, over and over!! Not so good. Probably a good way to clear your mind before doing any other writing though, get it all out kind of thing. I hope that your son will take over any more fish related duties now that he has seen you do it! Thank you for joining Five On Friday. I hope that you have a great weekend - and enjoy your colouring! xx
ReplyDeleteDoing cutting activities with young children is always a scary proposition. My husband is a fisherman, but thankfully a catch and release one.
ReplyDeleteYou are very brave to buy a fish and learn how to clean it. I have managed to get to my ripe old age without ever having to do that and vow to go out of this world without that skill. I hope you have a faboo weekend! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I have done Morning Pages (after reading The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron), but it was after my kids had left home - I think I would have struggled with youngsters in the house. I did love the 'pages' though and did them nearly every day for about 3 years - they helped me through some tough times - and now if I have a problem to deal with or make a decision about I find 'pages' help.
ReplyDeleteI have the Enchanted Garden colouring book which I took on holiday with the grandchildren - we loved doing it together, here's a post showing pictures of it: https://daffodilwild.wordpress.com/2015/08/11/purple/
Well done you for gutting a fish - not easy. I can gut fish but was traumatised by 'dressing' a chicken in my teens - I'm never doing THAT again!
1. A lucky escape being relegated to breadcrumbs. I hope your bread knife injury heals soon.
ReplyDelete2. Lovely little advent packages! Breaking things is my speciality and hubby does the mending things mostly.
3. I took a grown up colouring book on holiday with us. It was great as a quiet activity we could do together.
4. Not sure I could write three pages, maybe I could manage one. I'm not a very patient person and would end up writing a to do list, probably.
5. Fish gutting no problem. Having a land girl type childhood and later a catering background helps. Bravo to you for doing it, it's not a nice job.
This post is very "you", CJ, and I loved it! Have a super weekend. xx
Breadcrumbs sound better than onions. :-)
ReplyDeleteI've just started colouring and have been surprised to find I quite like it. Except I sometimes get that feeling you are describing when you tried the Morning Pages thing, like maybe my time could be spent doing something more productive. I think it can be hard for women to give themselves permission to simply relax.
My motto with fishing was "if you're old enough to catch them you're old enough to clean them." Ha!
Your coloring time together sounds very sweet. Much more my style than gutting a fish together, but good for you for supporting your children's unique interests! :)
ReplyDeleteI looked at the colouring books today in Waterstones and wondered about getting one. I'm quite tempted. I like the idea, but realistically, when would I sit and colour? I do agree mindfulness is healthy, and I do my own version of morning pages whenever I can...I set a time though as I find that works better for me.
ReplyDeleteOut of interest, do you use felt pens, or pencils with your colouring books? And where do you buy them from?
We always use colouring pencils, we seemed to have amassed quite a few from various places. I have some nice ones that I got a while ago from a local art and stationery shop - sadly now closed. Oh how I loved that shop. CJ xx
DeleteI think pencils are probably best...I'll maybe put them on my letter to Santa. :-)
DeleteMy youngest could uses some "colouring time" too. I think I may suggest it today after we go and buy the most perfect colouring book from the shops Have a wonderful weekend!
ReplyDeleteI've always asserted that onions didn't make me cry and have found out recently that it must have been contact lens protection.
ReplyDeleteI love colouring too, got a couple of adult books, it's very relaxing.
ReplyDeleteYour garlic looks great, and I've been picking late roses from the garden this week too. The little parcels are a lovely idea as an advent calendar. Writing three pages every morning sounds like fun, but I could never fit that in - half a page would be more realistic, I think. It's lovely to see that you and littlest boy did some colouring in together. Very therapeutic and companionable.
ReplyDeleteCathy x
The advantage to being late in reading and responding to a post is having a chance to read what others have typed in the comments before you which can be very entertaining :) I read not long ago about "morning pages" but have not tried it yet because of the time commitment. In theory I want to have a time talking to God, "listening" to Him and reading Scripture first thing in the morning, and I have written some short pages in that process from time to time, but not as was suggested in the book I read. If I slept less and got up before the rest of the household, perhaps I could pull off the morning pages...perhaps.... As for fish cleaning, I admire your guts in learning how to do it. I was in charge of a huge salmon given for a community dinner, and wrestled it trying to prepare it for cooking...with a dull knife as I remember it. Mercy...and once cooked it tasted...strangely like some sort of industrial cleaner might smell...shudder.... Cheers for your coloring efforts! I have been experimenting with some coloring books used as Christian devotional works, and I bought a Monet coloring book I have yet to color in...time is ever a challenge for me :) Thanks for posting, CJ!
ReplyDeleteit's so lovely to hear bout your positive colouring in! what a lovely way to spend with your little boy. I haven't; gotten into the colouring in - I've seen so many really beautiful ones, it's hard to choose, and some of the really good ones are ridiculously expensive.
ReplyDeleteHey CJ,
ReplyDeleteJust catching up after a weekend away visiting family and eating Chinese food (no vegans here). Olly and I like to sit and draw. Actually he is teaching me to draw. He's quite strict. But it is a calm and relaxing pursuit, and I like the sitting side by side of it. And just so you know, I am not allowed near any sharp knives, and my electric knife has been confiscated for my own health and safety.
Leanne xx